From the 2nd
to the 10th of December the First International Mangrove Training
on Biodiversity and Ecosystem in the Western Indian Ocean Region took place
at the University of Nairobi’s Moana Research Station for Marine Studies, in
Diani, Mombassa, Kenya. The training was
attended by more than 20 participants from 10 different countries. The team of trainers
were also international, including Professor Kathiresan, Director of the Centre of Advanced Study in Marine
Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences, at Annamalai University, India; Hanneke Van Lavieren from the UNU-INWEH; and Dr Cairo from the Kenya
Marine Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI).
First day introductions given by Dr. Cairo, the KMFRI
Director
I am currently working
as a Mangrove Conservation Officer at Blue Ventures Conservation (BVC) in Toliara,
Madagascar and this international mangrove training course has been the first official
training course on mangroves I have been part of. However, I acquired knowledge
and experience on mangroves through the completion of an internship with
Mangrove Action Project (MAP) in Thailand. I have been on the ground with BVC
for over a year now.
Myself on the
left and some other participants collecting data in the field
During the week
of the training we all learned a great deal about mangroves. The objective of
the training course was to build the capacity of mangrove practitioners and
managers throughout the region, as mangroves are under huge pressures from
human over-exploitation. Students were asked to give presentations about
mangroves in their respective countries which made me aware that the problems
faced by mangroves in the Western Indian Ocean region are all very similar.
Professor
Kathiresan shared case studies from India in his presentations. He explained the
uses of mangroves in India and how healthy mangrove buffers protected many
people during the 2004 Tsunami, which I found especially informative. I also
learned how local fishers protect themselves from attacks by Sundarbans Tigers
by wearing a mask. Case studies from Tanzania and Kenya were shared and were both
very informative and instructive.
We also had practical
field studies which included a mangrove marathon and a visit to the Mikoko Pamoja
Project site. I was very enthusiastic to
learn about the Mikoko Pamoja Project as it is one of the very first successful
community mangrove carbon projects and could therefore act as an example for
BVC, which is trying to implement a similar project in Madagascar.
Participants
taking part in the marathon field activity
The Gazi Bay’s
Community has generated carbon credits through mangrove reforestation and
conservation which has been very helpful as such funds are currently helping
towards the development of their village. During our field visit to the Gazy Bay
I was keen to learn more about this project but unfortunately we didn’t have
enough time. To conclude, I believe that
what I have learned during the training was very useful, especially for my work
at BVC as my job focuses on working with remote mangrove communities whose
lives are dependent on mangroves. I’m
very grateful to have had the opportunity to participate in this informative
and practical training and I would strongly recommend it to other young
professional mangrove practitioners and managers in the Western Indian Ocean
region. Please take a look at the
following website for application information for the next mangrove training
course to be in December 2014. http://inweh.unu.edu/mangrove-wio-region/
Group photo taken at the field site on day two of the
training
For more on my work with Blue Ventures please see: http://blog.blueventures.org/longing-for-a-carbon-project/
By: Sylvia Paulot E-mail <sylviapaulot@yahoo.com>
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